IMPROVED STYRENIC RESIN MOLDING COMPOSITION AND FOAM

Abstract: An optionally rubber-reinforced, monovinylidene aromatic polymer resin composition comprising: a) an optionally rubber-reinforced matrix polymer; and b) a plasticizing amount of a solid (at room temperature and pressure), low molecular weight, polymer of limonene or alpha-methylstyrene and, optionally, another copolymerizable vinyl aromatic monomer, having a weight average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 70,000, a volatiles content of up to 30 percent and a glass-transition temperature of at least about 25 DEG C. The composition surprisingly has improved flow characteristics, and no substantial decrease in toughness and rigidity. The invention further includes a process for producing a closed-cell polymer foam from the composition of the invention, an expandable or foamable monovinylidene aromatic polymer formulation comprising the composition of the invention and a blowing agent, and the resulting polymer foam. Advantageously, the foam of the invention can be produced using only CO2 as a blowing agent.

Description: IMPROVED STYRENIC RESIN MOLDING COMPOSITION AND FOAM The present invention relates to optionally rubber-reinforced styrenic polymers and to a polymeric foam, particularly a styrenic foam Styrenic molding polymers are useful for preparing molded articles such as small appliances, toys, video cassettes and housings for electronic equipment such as televisions For these applications, it is highly desirable to have a resin with good flow properties to facilitate the high speed production of complex molded articles It is also important to have a resin with good physical properties such as rigidity, as expressed by flexural ortensile properties For most applications, long-term load bearing properties are required These properties are known to be related to parameters such as flexural stress and flexural modulus for polystyrene, and tensile yield stress, tensile modulus and impact strength for high impact polystyrene In these molding applications it is also desirable to employ resins with good thermal properties The resins should be capable of sustaining their load bearing characteristics even at elevated temperatures The physical properties of styrene polymers generally improve as the molecular weight of the polymers increases For resins used in injection molding, the processabihty of the resin generally decreases as the molecular weight increases beyond a certain point Accordingly, the choice of molding resins having sufficient properties involves a compromise between physical property requirements and processing requirements Such compromises will limit the molecular weight range, and hence the physical property range, for a given polymer It is common practice to improve the processabihty of styrenic molding resins by using plasticizers which generally are low molecular weight organic compounds which are misαble with the polymer matrix and give improved processabihty Dioctyl phthalate, and other aromatic esters, are commonly employed as plasticizers in acrylonitnle butadiene styrene terpolymers (ABS) White mineral oil is commonly used as a plasticizer for styrene polymers The use of mineral oil generally improves the flow properties of a molding resin, but leads to deterioration of other properties such as rigidity, toughness, and the heat distortion temperature U S Paten 4,826,919 discloses blends of polyphenylene ether resin, rubber- modified alkenyl aromatic resin, and copolymers of styrene and alpha-methylstyrene having a weight average molecular weight of less than 5,000 The compositions optionally contain a thermoplastic elastomer The copolymer is employed m an amount which improves the melt flow rate of the blend of polyphenylene ether and rubber-modified alkenyl aromatic resin The copolymer additive is said to offer greater melt flow improvement compared to higher molecular weight styrenic homopolymers or copolymers However, the effect is demonstrated only for bromine-containing compositions, and the effect of the bromine on the melt flow behavior is not mentioned Thermoplastic foams such as styrenic polymer foams, are widely used in the fields of construction, civil engineering and thermal insulation. The styrenic polymer foam suitable for such applications desirably is extruded and has good dimensional stability and relatively small cells. These foams are the so-called extruded foams. Extruded foams are also employed 5 in the so-called decorative field wherein a foam plank may be cut into a decorative foam and be used as is or used as a base for further decorative material. For a considerable period of time, styrenic polymer foams have been extruded employing a variety of organic blowing agents, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) and other halogeπated hydrocarbons as well as mixtures thereof. However, large efforts currently are - o being made to replace CFC's, and other fully halogenated hydrocarbons with more environmentally acceptable blowing agents due to increased environmental concerns about ozone depletion, greenhouse effects and air quality in general. In view of the deficiencies of known styrenic resin compositions and foams, it would be highly desirable to have a styrenic molding resin having increased flow properties 15 while having comparable physical properties such as rigidity, toughness, and heat distortion temperature. Further, it would be desirable to provide a process for preparing a low density styrenic polymer foam using a partially or entirely pristine, that is, nonhalogenated, blowing agent. Furthermore, it also would be highly desirable to provide a low density styrenic polymer 20 foam, prepared using a partially or entirely pristine blowing agent, with improved processabihty without sacrificing other physical properties such as compressive strength and dimensional stability. The molding resin composition of the present invention is such an improved monovinylidene aromatic polymer resin composition comprising: a) an optionally rubber- 25 reinforced monovinylidene aromatic polymer; and b) a plasticizing amount of a low molecular weight polymer of limonene or alpha-methylstyrene and, optionally, another copolymerizable monomer, the low molecular weight polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 70,000, a volatiles content of up to 30 percent and a glass-transition temperature of at least about 25°C. The composition surprisingly has improved flow characteristics without 30 having a substantial decrease in toughness and rigidity. In its non-rubber-reinforced form, the composition surprisingly is as clear as normal (that is, not rubber-reinforced) polystyrene. The composition of the present invention can be used in the preparation of molded articles, such as toys, small appliances, video cassettes, and housings for electronic equipment. The invention further includes a process for producing a closed-cell polymer foam 35 from the resin composition of the invention, the resulting polymer foam, and an expandable or foamable monovinylidene aromatic polymer formulation comprising the composition of the invention and a blowing agent. Advantageously, the foam of the invention can be produced using only C0 2 as a blowing agent. The plasticizer of the present invention serves to improve the flow properties of the host polymer while maintaining or only slightly lowering rigidity and toughness while, surprisingly, maintaining or only slightly lowering the heat distortion temperature. Advantageously, the plasticizer is a solid at room temperature and pressure, and is a low 5 molecular weight polymer of alpha-methylstyrene or limonene, with d-limonene being the preferred limonene. The plasticizer can be a copolymer or a homopolymer. Advantageously, the plasticizer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 1 ,000, preferably at least 1 ,200, more preferably at least 1 ,500, and most preferably greater than or equal to 5,000. Advantageously the plasticizer has a molecular weight of less 1 o than about 70,000, preferably less than about 50,000, more preferably less than about 30,000, and most preferably less than about 25,000. Advantageously, the Tg of the plasticizer is at least about 25°C The plasticizers based on the copolymers of alpha-methylstyrene preferably have a glass-transition temperature of at least about 30°C. More preferably, the Tg of the plasticizer is at least about 15 50°C and most preferably is at least about 70°C. The volatiles content of the plasticizer advantageously is lower than about 30 percent otherwise an excessive drop in the heat properties of the final blend can be expected. Preferably, the volatiles content is less than about 25 percent, and more preferably is less than about 20 percent. For the purposes of the present invention, the volatiles content is measured at 200°C and 2 mm Hg vacuum for 100 20 minutes. The plasticizer is employed in a plasticizing amount. Suitably, the amount is such that the melt flow properties of the composition are improved while the toughness and rigidity of the composition are also maintained or only slightly reduced. Advantageously, from 0.1 to 30 weight percent of the plasticizer is employed based on the total weight of the matrix 25 polymer, the plasticizer, and the optional rubbery polymer. Preferably, the plasticizer is employed in an amount which is from 1 to 25 weight percent. More preferably, the amount of plasticizer is from 2 to 20 weight percent, and most preferably the amount is from a 2.5 to 15 percent. Mixtures of plasticizers of the invention can be employed. Advantageously, the polymeric plasticizer is compatible with the monovinylidene aromatic polymer matrix and has a 30 significantly lower viscosity. The low molecular weight polymer plasticizer can be prepared by any of the known polymerization methods known to those skilled in the art including, for example, anionic, cationic or free radical polymerization. Additionally, many such polymers are commercially available. When a comonomer is employed in the preparation of the plasticizer, 35 the amount of comonomer suitably is less than 50 percent and preferably is less than 20 percent based on the total weight of residual monomer units in the plasticizer. Examples of other comonomers for the plasticizer include, for example, styrene, which is preferred, and the monomers and comonomers described hereinbelow as being useful in the preparation of the monovinylidene aromatic polymer resin. The optionally rubber-reinforced monovinylidene aromatic polymer resins are well-known to those skilled in the art, are widely available commercially, and can be prepared by any of the several polymerization methods known to those skilled in the art including, for example anionic, cationic or free radical, which is preferred, polymerization. The rubber- modified polymers can be prepared by well-known methods including, for example, mass, emulsion, suspension and mass suspension methods. Mass polymerization is preferred. In general, continuous methods are employed for polymerizing the monovinyl aromatic o compound. The weight average molecular weight of the monovinylidene aromatic polymer resin employed in the present invention advantageously is at least about 100,000 and preferably is at least about 130,000. The weight average molecular weight of the monovinylidene aromatic polymer resin advantageously is less than about 700,000, and preferably is less than about 400,000. 5 The optionally rubber-reinforced polymer resins of the present invention are derived from one or more monovinyl aromatic compounds. Representative monovinyl aromatic compounds include styrene; alkyl substituted styrenes such as alpha-alkyl-styrenes (for example, alpha-methylstyrene and alpha-ethylstyrene) and ring alkylated styrenes and isomers thereof (for example, ortho ethyl styrene, 2,4-dimethyl styrene and vinyltoluene, 0 particularly, ortho or para vinyl toluene); ring substituted halo-styrenes such as chloro-styrene and 2,4-dichioro-styrene; and styrenes substituted with both a halo and alkyl group such as 2-chloro-4--methylstyrene; and vinyl anthracene. In general, the preferred monovinyl aromatic monomers are styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, one or more of the vinyl toluene isomers, and/or mixture of two or more of these, with styrene being the most preferred monovinyl aromatic 5 compound. The monomer mixture may optionally comprise minor amounts of one or more additional comonomers, preferably in an amount less than 10 percent by weight of the polymerizable monomer mixture. Suitable comonomers are unsaturated nitriles, for example acrylonitnle; alkyl acrylates and alkyl methacrylates, for example methyl methacrylate or n- 0 butylacrylate; ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers; and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative monomers including anhydrides and amides such as maleic anhydride, and maleimides such as N-phenyl maleimide. The rubbers preferably employed in the rubber-modified resins are those polymers and copolymers which exhibit a second order transition temperature which is not 5 higher than 0°C, preferably not higher than -20°C, and more preferably not higher than -40°C as determined or approximated using conventional techniques, for example, ASTM Test Method D-746-52 T. Highly preferred rubbers are alkadiene polymers. Suitable alkadienes are 1 ,3-conjugated dienes such as butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene or piperylene. Most preferred are homopolymers (excepting any coupling monomers) prepared from 1 ,3-conjugated dienes, with such homopolymers of 1 ,3-butadiene being especially preferred. Alkadiene copolymer rubbers containing small amounts, for example less than 15, preferably less than 10 weight percent, of other monomers such as monovinyl aromatics can also be employed. As used herein, the particle size is the diameter of the rubber particles as measured in the resultant product, including all occlusions of matrix polymer within rubber particles, which occlusions are generally present in the disperse rubber particles of a rubber- reinforced polymer prepared using mass polymerization techniques. Rubber particle morphologies, sizes and distributions may be determined using conventional techniques such as (for larger particles) using a Coulter Counter (Coulter Counter is a trademark of Coulter Electronics) or, particularly for smaller particles, transmission electron microscopy. The rubber is advantageously employed in amounts such that the rubber- reinforced polymer product contains from 2 to 20 percent, preferably from 3 to 17 percent, more preferably 3 to 15 weight percent rubber or rubber equivalent. The term "rubber" or "rubber equivalent" as used herein to indicate weight amounts of rubber material is intended to mean, for a rubber homopolymer (such as polybutadiene), simply the amount of rubber, and for a block copolymer, the amount of the copolymer made up from monomer(s) which, when homopolymerized form a rubbery polymer. For example, for calculating the amount of rubber in a composition where a butadiene-styrene block copolymer rubber has been employed, the "rubber" or "rubber equivalent" of the composition is calculated based on only the butadiene component in the block copolymer. Obviously where physical properties or other aspects of the rubber material are measured, the complete rubber material including any comonomers is referred to. The monovinylidene aromatic polymer resin can also contain other additives such as additional plasticizers or lubricants such as mineral oil, butyl stearate or dioctyl phthalate; stabilizers, including antioxidants (for example, alkylated phenols such as di-tert-butyl-p-cresol or phosphites such as trisnonyl phenyl phosphite); mold release agents, for example, zinc stearate; flame retardants and pigments. The compositions of the invention advantageously are substantially free of polyphenylene oxide. The compositions of the present invention can be prepared by mixing the plasticizer and the styrenic resin using polymer compounding methods well known to those skilled in the art including, for example, dry blending and extrusion. The compositions of the invention advantageously exhibit improved melt flow properties while essentially maintaining other important physical properties such as rigidity, toughness, heat distortion temperature, and, in the case of clear matrix polymers, transparency. The compositions of the present invention advantageously can be employed in the preparation of styrenic polymer foam. Some advantages of using the composition of the present invention in a process to prepare foam include: reduced pressure drop across the extrusion line; lower foam density; and maintenance of good mechanical and heat resistance properti es of the f oam . The foam blowing method of the present invention comprises foaming a mixture of the styrenic resin of the invention and a blowing agent to produce a styrenic foam. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the method comprises producing a styrenic foam by heating the styrenic resin in an extruder to produce a molten resin; introducing into the molten resin a blowing agent to produce a plasticized extrusion mass under a pressure sufficient to prevent foaming of the extrusion mass; and extruding the extrusion mass through a die into a zone having a temperature and pressure sufficient to permit foaming of the extrusion mass to produce the styrenic foam. The blowing agent, that is, foaming agent, used herein can be any known in the art for thermoplastic foams. See, for example, U.S. Patents 3,770,666; 4,31 1 ,636; 4,636,527; 4,438,224; 3,420,786; and 4,421 ,866. Examples of such blowing agents include commonly used liquid or gaseous organic compounds which do not dissolve the polymer and which have a boiling point below the softening point of the polymer. A wide variety of volatile fluid blowing agents which are carbon-containing compounds can be utilized. They include such materials as the aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons including ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, butane, butylene, isobutane, pentane, neopentane, isopentane, hexane, heptane, cyclohexane and mixtures thereof, as well as fully or partially halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, chlorodif I uoromethane; 1-chloro-1 , 1-difluorethane; 1 ,1 ,1 ,2- tetrafluoroethane; 2-chloro-1 ,1, 1 ,2-tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, 2,1 ,1 ,1-dichloro- difluoroethane, 1 ,1-difluoroethane and 1 ,1 ,1-trifluoroethane and 1 ,1-difluoroethane. Preferably, the blowing agents generally exhibit a boiling point of not greater than 100°C at 100 kPa absolute pressure. Other useful fluid blowing agents are the tetraalkyl silanes such as tetramethylsilane, trimethylsilane, trimethylisσpropylsilane and trimethyl n-propylsilane, having a boiling point not higher than 100°C at 100 kPa absolute pressure. Mixtures of blowing agents may be employed. The blowing agent is employed in an amount sufficient to enable the production of the foam. It is advantageous to use 3 to 18 percent by weight of blowing agent based on the polymer, preferably 4 to 15 percent. Due to environmental concerns, it is preferred to employ blowing agents having an ozone depletion potential of zero or less. It is preferred to employ a partially or entirely pristine blowing agent. The term pristine blowing agent, as used herein, is meant to define nonhalogenated blowing agents such as, for example, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water and argon In one embodiment it is preferred to use carbon dioxide alone or in admixture with one or more of the previously described blowing agents. In a particularly preferred embodiment, C0 2 isthe only blowing agent. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blowing agent is a mixture of C0 2 and a lower alcohol of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably up to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of lower alcohols include, for example, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol and hexanol, with ethanol being more preferred. In another preferred embodiment, the blowing agent is a mixture of C0 2 and a hydrocarbon blowing agent, with alkanes being preferred. The blowing agent employed in the present invention preferably comprises 5 weight percent or more, preferably 10 weight percent or more, and more preferably 20 weight percent or more carbon dioxide based upon the total weight of the blowing agent. It is advantageous to employ as much carbon dioxide as possible in the blowing agent while still making a desirable foam structure because carbon dioxide is economical and does not harm the environment. Small amounts of water (0.1 to 4 weight percent) may be used in the foam preparation process with or without an appropriate solubilizing or dispersing agent such as an alcohol, glycol or surfactant. In the preparation of foams in accordance with the method of the invention, it is often desirable to add a nucleating agent to the styrenic resin. These nucleating agents serve primarily to increase cell count and reduce the cell size in the foam and are used in an amount of 0.1 part by weight to 4 parts by weight per 100 parts resin. For example, talc, sodium bicarbonate/citric acid and calcium silicate are suitable nucleating agents for reducing cell size. Talc is a preferred nucleating agent. Various other additives, for example, flame retardant additives, color concentrates, stabilizers, anti-oxidants or lubricants also may be used depending on the end use of the styrenic foam. The invention comprises a method for producing a styrenic foam having a thickness of from 0.04 to 4.0 inches or more, using the blowing agent compositions of the invention. Packaging foams are anywhere from 0.04 to 0.200 inches, while insulating foams may be as thick as 4.0 inches or higher. In the preferred method of the invention, a styrenic foam is produced from a "styrenic resin," which means a solid polymer of one or more polymerizable monovinyl aromatic compounds or a compatible mixture of such polymers. In the method of the invention, the styrenic resin is mixed with a blowing agent composition and the resulting mixture isthen foamed according to methods well-known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the foaming is carried out with the use of an extruder, wherein the styrenic polymer is heated to a temperature of from 200 to 280°C to produce a molten polymer and the blowing agent is then introduced into the extruder where it is mixed with the molten polymer under pressures such that the resulting plasticized extrusion mass does not foam, but its viscosity decreases. The extrusion mass is then cooled. Cooling increases the viscosity and the melt strength of the mass prior to extrusion. The mass is then extruded through a die of any desirable shape of a controlled temperature, usually 100 to 150°C, the reduced pressure outside the extruder permitting the extrusion mass to foam. In practicing the method of the invention, the blowing agent may be added to the styrenic resin in any desirable manner and preferably is added by injection of a stream of the blowing agent composition directly into the molten styrenic resin in the extruder. The blowing agent should be mixed thoroughly with the styrenic resin before the blowing agent and styrenic resin mass is extruded from the die. This is necessary to produce a foam having uniform density and cellular structure. The extrusion mass comprising the molten resin and the blowing agent composition is extruded into an expansion zone within which foam formation and expansion takes place. Any suitable extrusion equipment capable of processing foamable styrenic compositions can be used for the extrusion. Single or multiple-screw extruders can be used. Softening the polymer and mixing with the blowing agent take place during working of the polymer between flights of the screw or screws, which also serve to convey the extrusion mass to the extruder die. Screw speed and extruder barrel temperature should be such as to achieve adequate mixing and softening but not so high as to degrade the composition being processed. The foams can be used in the form prepared, cut into other shapes, further shaped by application of heat and pressure or otherwise machined or formed into shaped articles of desired size and shape. The foam structure is preferably closed-cell, and has a closed-cell content of at least 90 percent according to ASTM D2856-87. The foam structure preferably has a density of 16 to 80 kilograms per cubic meter according to ASTM D-3575. The foam further preferably has an average cell size of 0.05 to 2.4 millimeters. The following experiments illustrate the present invention and should not be construed to limit its scope. All parts and percentages are by weight and all temperatures are degrees Celsius unless otherwise indicated. The abbreviations used in the tables include Mw (weight average molecular weight), Mn (number average molecular weight), PAMS (polyalphamethylstyrene), SAMS (styrene alpha-methylstyrene copolymer) and Wt% (weight percent). Example 1 - Polystyrene plus PAMS Polymer formulations are prepared by dry blending a small quantity of plasticizer with a general purpose polystyrene resin. The polystyrene resin is a non-plasticized high molecular weight resin with an Mw of 320,000 a.m. u. and a polydispersity ratio (that is, the ratio Mw/Mn) of 2.4. The dry blend is then extruded to obtain a homogeneous blend. The extrudate is cut into small granules and all the testing is done on the formulation of these small granules. Two poly(alpha-methylstyrene) polymers are employed as the plasticizer. The first is a low molecular weight homopolymer of alpha-methylstyrene, designated PAMS-A, which is commercially available from Amoco Chemical Company as Resin 18-240. It has an Mw of 6,700 and an Mn of 500. It contains approximately 20 percent volatile components as measured at 200°C for 100 minutes under a vacuum of 2 mm Hg. PAMS-A has a glass transition temperature of 122°C as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The second polymer, PAMS-B, is commercially available from Amoco Chemical Company under the designation Resin 18-290. It is a homopolymer of alpha-methylstyrene with a glass-transition temperature of 142°C, an Mw of 1 1 ,900 and an Mn of 400. The total volatile content for PAMS- B is 14 percent. As a comparative experiment the base non-plasticized polystyrene is blended with 2.5 percent white mineral oil. Testing is done according to the following standard test procedures. The results of the testing are given in Table 1. As used herein, the weight average molecular weight, Mw, and number average molecular weight, Mn, for the polymers are determined by the gel permeation chromatographic techniques described by ASTM test method D-3536 (polystyrene standard) and expressed without correction for the differences between polymers and polystyrene standards. Vicat heat distortion temperature (HDT) is measured using injection molded test bars according to ASTM test method D1525-87, rate B, load 1 kg. The melt flow rate (MFR) is measured using a Zwick MFR Measurement Apparatus according to the test procedure ASTM D-1238-86 at 200°C with a 5 kg load. Flexural strength and flexural modulus are measured on injection molded bars prepared using an Arburg All Rounder 170 CMD injection molding machine. The following conditions are employed for the machine: the temperature profile is 210°C, 215°C, and 220°C; and the nozzle temperature is 225°C. The mold temperature is 30°C; the injection speed is 20 cmVsec; and the injection pressure is 1,300 bar. Flexural properties are determined using a Zwick Tester in 3-point bending mode according to the test procedure ASTM D-790. Table 1 Composition and Property Data for Pure and Plasticized Polystyrene versus PAMS-A and PAMS-B Modified Polystyrene Example Al* A2* A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 % Mineral Oil 0 2.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 % PAMS-A 0 0 5 10 0 0 0 0 % PAMS-B 0 0 0 0 5 10 20 8 o MFR (g/10 min.) 1.5 2.5 2.5 3.4 2.4 3.1 5.0 2.9 I Vicat HDT (°C) 108.0 98.0 105.6 103 L06.9 105.1 103.1 106 Flexural Str. 93.4 86.0 95.9 97.7 97.1 98.9 87.1 95 (MPa) Flex. Modulus 3040 3000 3175 3150 3190 3190 3410 3200 (MPa) Elongation (%) 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 2.8 3.5 * Comparative experiment - not an embodiment of the invention The data in Table 1 indicate that incorporation of PAMS-A and PAMS-B at levels between 5 percent and 20 percent results in a polymer that possesses improved properties. Incorporation of mineral oil into the polymer improves the melt flow rate but also causes a dramatic reduction in flexural strength and Vicat heat distortion temperature. The unplasticized base polymer has good flexural properties but its melt flow rate is low. Example 2 - Polystyrene plus Polyterpene The method of Example 1 is repeated with the following exceptions. Commercially available low molecular weight polyterpene resins are used as polymeric plasticizers. These resins are available from Yasuhara Chemical Co. Ltd. under the trade name o CLEARON resins. The properties for blends of polystyrene and 10 percent CLEARON polyterpene resins, specifically CLEARON T01 15 (Tg = 63 C C) nonhydrogenated and CLEARON M115 (Tg = 61°C) semi-hydrogenated resins, are given in Table 2. The blank (Experiment B1) STYRON ® 648 brand polystyrene, available from The Dow Chemical Company, is extruded twice in order to make it comparable with other blends. 5 Table 2 Blends of STYRON ® 648 and Polyterpene Resins Experiment Bl* B2 B3 Composition STYRON ® 648 10% CLEARON TO 115 10% CLEARON Ml 15 Appearance Clear Clear Clear 0 MFR (g/10 min) 2.4 4.9 4.3 Vicat HDT (°C) 108.3 103.3 105 .2 Flex. St. (MPa) 94 91 95 Flex. Mod. (MPa) 2880 2940 2930 5 Comparative experiment As indicated by the results in Table 2, substantial improvement in flow is obtained without any significant drop in either heat distortion properties or in any flexural strength properties. All the blends are as transparent as polystyrene B1. 0 5 Example 3 - Polystyrene plus SAMS or PAMS A low molecular weight copolymer of styrene and alpha-methylstyrene is made via free radical copolymerization of a mixture of styrene monomer and alpha methyl styrene monomer in a 1.5 liter batch reactor fitted with a jacket for heat exchange and a hollow shaft agitator with helical blades. The polymerization feed contains 60 percent alpha-methylstyrene monomer and 40 percent styrene monomer. The polymerization feed also contains 2000 ppm of the initiator 1 ,1 '-bis(tert-butyl peroxy)cyclohexanone which is commercially available from Akzo Chemicals as TRIGONOX 22. The monomers are polymerized by increasing the temperature of the polymerization mixture from 130 to 190°C over a period of 9 hours at a heating rate of 15°C per hour. During the polymerization a chain transfer agent, n-dodecyl mercaptan, is added at a level of 2000 ppm four times. After 9 hours the conversion of the monomers reaches 65 percent solids and the resultant mixture is devolatilized in a vacuum oven at 230°C for 30 minutes applying full vacuum. The resulting polymer is called SAMS-A and has the following properties: Total residual monomers 6 .2% Trimers 1.75- Mw 26,800 Mn 13,800 Tg 115°C Analysis by IR spectroscopy indicates that the polymer is 65.5 percent alpha- methylstyrene and 34.5 percent styrene. The properties of a series of styrene alpha- methylstyrene (SAMS) copolymers commercially obtained from Hercules Corporation under the trade name KRISTALEX are given in Table 3. Table 3 Properties of KRISTALEX SAMS Copolymers Des i gnat i on SAMS-B SAMS-C SAMS-D SAMS-E SAMS-F Commercial F85 F100 1120 3085 5140 designation Wt% AMS 44 48 60 47 41 Mw 1610 2000 2075 1860 6100 Mn 1360 1590 691 1580 3550 Volatiles(%) 15.8 8.4 17.4 12.7 4.2 Tg (°C) 83 81 111 88 121 Blends of these resins and a high flow polystyrene resin XZ86609.02, (hereinafter referred to as Resin XZ) which is available from The Dow Chemical Company, are made according to the method of Example 1 and the properties are given in Table 4. Table 4 Properties of Blends of Polystyrene Resin XZ and SAMS Copolymers Experiment Cl* C2 C3 Composition Resin XZ 15% SAMS-A 10% SAM! MFR (g/10 min) 8.7 15 15 Vicat SP (°C) 108 104 104 Flex. Str. (MPa) 75 75 69 Flex. Mod. (MPa) 2950 3090 3210 Flex. Elongation (%) 2.6 2.4 2.1 Comparative experiment Similarly, blends of Resin XZ and a series of SAMS and PAMS materials are prepared. The physical properties of these blends are given in Table 5. Table 5 Blends of SAMS and PAMS Plasticizers with Polystyrene Resin XZ Experiment Dl* D2 D3 D4 D5 Composition Resin XZ 10% PAMS-A 10% PAMS-B 10% SAMS-D 16% SAMS-D MFR (g/10 min) 9.7 17.3 16.4 18 29 Vicat (°C) 107 100 102 103 102 Fl.St. (MPa) 72 65 65 66 55 Fl. Mod (MPa) 3140 3160 3140 3140 3240 Fl. Elong (%) 2.3 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.6 * Comparative experiment Table 6 summarizes a series of experiments wherein the level of PAMS is varied to determine the effect on flow and Vicat HDT. Table 6 Flow and Heat Distortion Properties of PAMS/Polystyrene Blends Blend Ratio PAMS Vicat SP CO MFR (g/10 min.) 100% Resin XZ 108 7.3 97% Resin XZ + 3% PAMS-B 107 9.4 93% Resin XZ + 7% PAMS-B 106 10.1 90% Resin XZ + 10% PAMS-B 105 11.8 87% Resin XZ + 13% PAMS-B 104 13.3 85% Resin XZ + 15% PAMS-B 103 17 All of the plasticizer copolymers and homopolymers tested have higher glass-transition temperatures than that of the base polystyrene. Despite the higher Tg, a higher than expected drop in the Vicat HDT of the blends is sometimes observed. It is be 1 ieved that this reduction in the heat properties is due to the fact that all the plasticizer polymers contain some volatiles. These volatiles cause a drop in the heat properties when mixed with the polystyrene matrix. In order to demonstrate this point, two SAMS copolymers are made containing less than 1 percent of volatile components. These two SAMS copolymers are prepared by anionic polymerization in hexane using n-butyl lithiu.n as the initiator. The resulting polymers have the properties listed in Table 7. Table 7 Properties of Anionically Polymerized SAMS Copolymers Designation SAMS-G SAMS-H Composition % AMS 63 62 Composition % styrene 37 38 Mw 7700 9500 Mw/Mn 1.08 1.08 % Volatiles 0.67 0.50 Tg CO 125 130 SAMS-G and SAMS-H are compounded with STYRON® 648 by extrusion blending. The blend properties are listed in Table 8. Table 8 Properties of Blends of STYRON ® 648 and Anionically Polymerized SAMS Copolymers and Polystyrene Experiment El* E2 E3 Composition STYRON 648 10% SAMS-G 10% SAMS-H MFR (g/10 min.) 2.01 2.80 2.84 Vicat HDT CO 108.6 110.6 111.1 Flex ST (MPa) 89 90 89 Flex. Mod (MPa) 3100 3155 3175 Flex Elong. % 3.0 3.0 2.9 ^Comparative experiment The results in Table 8 indicate that the heat distortion temperature of the blends increases in the absence of high levels of volatile components. Table 9 gives the property balance of blends of SAMS-(B through F) with STYRON ® 648. Table 9 Properties of Commercially Available SAMS Copolymers and Their Blends with STYRON 1 ' 648 brand Polystyrene Flex Flex Flex Exp. Blend MRF Vicat SP St. Mod. Elong No. Compn. (q/10 min.] ' (°c) (MPa) (MPa) m Fl* STYRON 648 2.2 108.7 99 3120 4.4 F2 5% SAMS-B 3.1 104.8 95 3155 3.9 F3 10% SAMS-B 4.3 101.3 93 3140 4.2 F4 5% SAMS-C 2.9 106.2 96 3145 3.9 F5 10% SAMS-C 4.4 103.2 94 3145 4.1 F6 5% SAMS-D 3.3 107 89 3110 3.1 F7 10% SAMS-D 4.3 105.6 94 3165 3.9 F8 5% SAMS-E 2.8 105.6 93 3110 3.1 F9 10% SAMS-E 5.3 101.7 94 3165 4.2 F10 5% SAMS-F 2.3 108.3 98 3130 4.1 Fll 10% SAMS-F 3.0 107.6 97 3203 4.1 * Comparative example. All the examples of the invention show clearly that the blends of the polymeric plasticizers with polystyrene resins result in the improvement of the flow properties and cause no reduction or minimal reduction in the heat distortion properties and physical properties. Example 4 - HIPS plus PAMS Blends of PAMS-A and -B with a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) commercially available from The Dow Chemical Company under the designation STYRON® 472 are prepared using the method of Example 1. STYRON® 472 is a mass polymerized HIPS containing 8.5 percent rubber of 3.5 micron average particle size. The physical properties of the blends are summarized in Table 10. The following additional test procedures are employed. Tensile: ASTM D 638-87B at 5 mm/mi n. Izod impact: ASTM D256-87. Charpy impact: ISO 179-2C. Table 10 Blending PAMS-A and PAMS-B wi th HIPS Experiment Gl* HI HI G4 HI % PAMS-A 0 5 10 0 0 % PAMS-B 0 0 0 5 10 MFR (g/10 3.6 5.1 7.0 4.7 5.7 min. ) Vicat (°C) 101.5 99.3 96.5 99.8 98.1 Izod I . (J/M) 112 105 87 106 89 Charpy (kJ/M2) 8.4 7.6 6.4 7.5 6.5 Ten. 16.5 16.6 16.9 17.1 17.5 Yield. (MPa) Ten.Rup. (MPa) 19.5 19.6 19.3 20.3 19.6 Elong. (%) 55 54 49 55 46 E-mod. (MPa) 1515 1565 1610 1620 1660 * Comparative exper iment - not an embodiment of the invention Table 10 again clearly demonstrates the benefits of using PAMS materials of the invention to obtain improved flow properties. The tensile properties are generally improved. The impact reduction in Experiments G2-G5 compared to G 1 is a result of the reduced, percentage-wise, polybutadiene content due to incorporation of the PAMS materials. The clear improvement in modulus and melt flow rate is highly desirable and surprising, as current plasticizers are not capable of improving both of the properties. Example 5 - Foam Example 5A Closed-cell styrene polymer foams are prepared utilizing a 2-inch diameter extruder which feeds a mixer. The mixer discharge stream is passed through 3 heat exchangers. The discharge from the heat exchangers is passed through a static mixer, and is expanded through a slot die into a region of lower pressure. A mixture of a polystyrene resin having a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 as measured by liquid chromatography and PAMS-B is prepared according to the method of Example 1 and is fed to the extruder with 2.5 pph (parts per hundred based on polymer) of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), 0.2 pph of tetrasodiumpyrophosphate (TSPP) 0.2 pph of barium stearate and 0.15 pph of a cyano-phthalo blue dye concentrate. PAMS-B is added at levels of 1 and 2.9percent based on the weight of the total polymer mixture. Blowing agents are injected into the mixer in the amounts identified in Table 1 1. The foamable gel is cooled to 129°C and extruded through the die and expanded between substantially parallel forming plates. Foam production conditions and physical property values of the resulting foams are given in Table 1 1. Table 11 Blowinq Aqent Exp. Poly- No. styrene PAMS-B Additives HCFC-:L42b C0 2 % % (PPh) (PPh) (PPh) HI* 100 0 3.05 10 2 H2 99 1 3.05 10 2 H3 97.1 2.9 3.05 10 2 Pressure Pressure Cell Mixer Die Drop Density Size (bar) (bar) (bar) (kg/m3) (mm) HI' " 143 63 80 36, .7 0.20 H2 132 59 73 35 .0 0.23 H3 133 65 68 33 .0 0.25 Compressive strenqt HDT WD Vertical Extrusion Horizontal (kPa) (kPa) (kPa) (°C) (%) HI* 534 229 247 73 3.10 H2 489 228 239 76 1.91 H3 466 197 231 73 2.09 E.D.C. Vertic. Extrusion Horiz Vol, Skin (%) (%) (%) (%) HI* 0 5.6 0.6 6.2 Good H2 0.3 4.9 1.1 6.3 Good H3 0.2 6.6 0.7 7.5 Accept¬ able * Comparative Experiment Surprisingly, the foam density for Experiments H2 and H3 is lower than that of H1 , the control. The compressive strength values are equivalent to that of the control foam at equivalent foam density. The heat resistance performance as measured by the "WD" test (German DIN- 18164 standard), and the heat distortion temperature is maintained or improved. Example 5B Foams are produced using the procedure and apparatus of Example 5A with the following exceptions. The blowing agent is a mixture of 3 pph carbon dioxide and 3.5 pph ethanol. The PAMS-B level ranges from 2.9percent to 9.1 percent total of the polymer mixture. Foam production conditions and physical properties are given in Table 12. Table 12 Exp. Poly¬ Blowinq Aqent No. styrene PAMS-B Additives Ethanol C0 2 (%) (%) (pph) (PPh) (PPh) 14* 100 0 2.15 3.5 3 15 97.1 2.9 2.15 3.5 3 16 95.2 4.8 2.55 3.5 3 17 90.9 9.1 2.55 3.5 3 Pressure Pressure Mixer Die Drop Density Cell Size (bar) (bar) (bar) (kg/m3) (mm) 14* 168 68 100 36.2 0.38 15 150 65 85 34.6 0.34 16 146 56 90 35.0 0.43 17 138 61 77 34.2 0.40 Compressive strength HDT WD Vertic. Extrusion Horiz (kPa) (kPa) (kPa) (°C) (%) 14* 446 176 240 88 1.40 15 382 193 245 88 2.27 16 406 232 227 91 2.27 17 408 198 222 88 2.03 E.D.C. Skin Vertic. Extrusion Horiz. Volume (%) (%) (%) (%) 14* -0.2 0.9 -0.3 0.4 Good 15 -0.2 -0.3 0.6 0.1 Acceptable 16 -0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.2 Good 17 -0.1 0.7 -0.2 0.4 Good * Comparative Experiment Example 5B demonstrates the lower foam density, reduced pressure drop and good mechanical properties, including dimensional stability, obtained using the invention. Example 5C The procedure of Example 5A is followed with the following exceptions. The apparatus is a 1 1/4inch screw-type extrusion line with a slit die. The temperature of the cooling zone is adjusted so that the gel is cooled to a uniform temperature of 135°C to 140°C. Further details and results are contained in Table 13. Table 13 0 Exp. Poly¬ Blowing Agent No. styrene PAMS-B C0 2 H 2 0 ( % ) (%) (PPh) (PPh) J8* 100 0 4.5 0 J9 80 20 4.0 0 J10* 100 0 4.0 0.3 5 Jll 80 20 4.0 0.3 Pressure Pressure Cell Mixer Die Drop Density Size Skin (in (bar) (bar) (kg/m3) (mm) 0 bar) J8* 227 128 99 39.6 0.21 Good J9 189 119 70 40.4 0.26 Good J10* 207 121 86 38.5 0.21 Good Jll 177 110 67 36.7 0.35 Good Comparative Experiment 5 The results of Example 5C confirm the effect of the invention using different blowing agents, including C0 alone and C0 2 with water. Q Foam Physical Property Testi nq Methods Density: ASTM D- 1622. Cell size: ASTM D 3576-77. Compressive Strength: ASTM 1621-79. WD test: German DIN 18164. 5 Heat distortion temperatures (HDT) are measured according to the following test method. The average value of three specimens is reported. Extruded foam is cut into sample blocks 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, with the thickness as extruded. A block is placed in an oven, heated to a specified temperature, held at that temperature for 1 hour, and then is allowed to cool to ambient temperature. Testing conditions start at 73°C. Foam dimensions are measured before heating and after cooling. The test is then repeated with new samples, increasing the temperature in increments of 3°C for each new sample, and this is repeated until the specimens fail. Failure is determined by a volume change of more than 5percent or a change in length, width or height of more than 2percent. The reported value is the last non-failing value. Environmental dimensional change (E.D.C): ASTM C-578-83.

Claims: 1. An optionally rubber-reinforced monovinylidene aromatic polymer composition comprising: (a) an optionally rubber-reinforced monovinylidene aromatic polymer; and having a weight average molecular weight of at least about 100,000; and (b) a plasticizing amount of a low molecular weight polymer of limonene or alpha- methylstyrene having a weight average molecular weight of from 1 ,000 to 70,000, a volatiles content of up to 30percent and a glass transition temperature of at least 25°C. 2. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the polymer of (b) is a homopolymer of limonene. 3. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the monomer of the low molecular weight polymer is alpha-methylstyrene. 4. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the polymer of (b) is a copolymer of styrene and alpha-methylstyrene. 5. The composition of Claim 1 wherein component (a) is at least 70percent by weight of the composition. 6. The composition of Claim 1 which is substantially free of polyphenylene oxide. 7. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the T g of the polymer of (b) is at least 50°C 8. The composition of Claim 7 wherein the Tg of the polymer of (b) is at least 70°C 9. A monovinylidene aromatic polymer composition consisting essentially of an optionally rubber-reinforced monovinylidene aromatic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 and a plasticizing amount of a polymer of limonene or alpha-methylstyrene having a weight average molecular weight of from 1 ,000 to 70,000, a volatiles content of up to 30percent and a glass transition temperature of at least 25°C. 10. A process for producing a closed-cell polymer foam comprising heating the composition of Claim 1 to a temperature sufficient to provide a molten polymer; admixing a blowing agent with said molten polymer to provide a plasticized mixture; heating the mixture to a temperature and applying a pressure such that the plasticized mixture does not foam; thereafter, reducing the temperature of the mixture to increase its viscosity; and extruding the plasticized mixture into a zone at a temperature and pressure sufficient to permit foaming. 1 1. An expandable monovinylidene aromatic polymer formulation comprising: (A) a monovinylidene aromatic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000; (B) a low molecular weight polymer of limonene or alpha-methylstyrene having a weight average molecular weight of from 1 ,000 to 70,000, a volatiles content of up to 30percent and a glass transition temperature of at least 25°C; and (C) a blowing agent. 5 12. The formulation of Claim 1 1 wherein the monovinylidene aromatic polymer is polystyrene. 13. The formulation of Claim 12 wherein the low molecular weight polymer is poly(alpha-methylstyrene). 14. The formulation of Claim 12 wherein the limonene comprises d-limonene. 10 15. The formulation of Claim 12 wherein the blowing agent comprises C0 2 - 16. The formulation of Claim 12 wherein the blowing agent consists essentially of C0 2 . 17. A polymer foam comprising: (A) a monovinylidene aromatic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 1 5 100,000; and (B) a low molecular weight polymer of a vinyl aromatic monomer or limonene having a weight average molecular weight of from 1 ,000 to 70,000, a volatiles content of up to 30percent and a glass transition temperature of at least 25°C. 18. The foam of Claim 17 wherein the low molecular weight polymer is 20 poly(alpha-methylstyrene). 19. The foam of Claim 17 wherein the limonene comprises d-limonene. 20. The foam of Claim 17 wherein the low molecular weight polymer is a copolymer of styrene and alpha-methylstyrene. 25 30 35

Inventors: DEMIROERS MEHMET, VERAART RUDI H E, VO CHAU V, DEMIROERS, MEHMET, VERAART, RUDI, H., E., VO, CHAU, V.
Applicants: DOW CHEMICAL CO, THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C08L25
IPC codes: C08J9, C08L25, C08L51